A blaze tore through a home in Lima’s La Victoria district at 3am on Wednesday, killing 10 members of the same family, among them five children aged three to 15. Seventeen people were inside the property when the fire started, but only seven managed to escape, according to the Infobae news site.
Peruvian National Police Commander General Oscar Arriola confirmed the victims’ remains were burned beyond recognition. The children were aged three, six, six, eight and 15; the adults were 29, 35, 42 and 72. Two people were also reportedly injured.
“A fire in Lima, Peru, killed 10 family members, including five children, as police investigate arson.”
Police are investigating whether the fire was deliberately started. Neighbours told the government news agency Andina that unknown individuals set electric motorcycles ablaze outside the property. The flames then spread rapidly through highly flammable materials used by the family in their mattress-making business. The family had allegedly received threats and demands for extortion payments for about a month prior to the blaze, local media reported.
“Today, all of Peru falls silent in the face of a tragedy that plunges our nation into mourning,” the National Police of Peru said in a statement. Arriola said police would maintain a significant presence in the area to protect the property from “criminal acts”.
The Peruvian National Police’s Fire Investigation Department is working with forensic specialists to determine the fire’s origin and cause. Family members indicated that security camera footage from a residence facing the property could assist investigators. The site remains sealed off as forensic teams continue examining the scene to identify the victims and establish how the fire began.
The suspected arson allegations remain under active investigation by police and prosecutors.